Rishaye Shaw

My name is Rishaye Shaw, I am a proud Nyikina and Gooniyandi woman from the West/East Kimberly region. I grew up in the small community of Gillarong 15km outside of Fitzroy Crossing, where I spent most of my childhood on country and learning the stories and song of my ancestors.

I’ve had a strong connection to my culture from a very young age as I was able to learn from my Jugoo (great grandmother) the stories, songs and lore of the land. Preserving the land and waters where my people once walked has always been important to me and tourism was how my family could share our riwi (home) and culture, to those who visited and wanted to learn.

With the help of tourism my mother and father sought to heal people through country and took on the role of healing troubled youth out on country, for them to experience life outside of drugs, alcohol and abuse.

As I grew up I had to leave my hometown for my education. I had the opportunity to participate in the Djinda Ngardak culinary program, which allowed me to understand the importance of tourism as a means to preserving our cultural knowledge, and to build networks with our Aboriginal youth across the state. Through this program I have worked with some of the best chefs WA has to offer, MC at the gala dinner. My biggest achievement through this program was I was representing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people Australia at the Culinary Olympics in Germany.

These are some of many proud moments in my life and  through my work with Prepare Produce Provide, I will use my platform to encourage other young Indigenous people to embrace and share culture.